Co-operative Group chief executive Peter Marks is leading a band of fellow colleagues in launching a charity single to support the organisation's charity partners, Mencap and its sister charity Enable.

Marks plays drums for the newly-formed Angel Square band, which hopes to help the organisation hit its £5m fundraising target for the year. He is joined by seven senior colleagues in releasing a cover of Take That's 'Greatest Day'.

The single is available for download on iTunes, priced at 79p, and all proceeds will go to develop ‘Inspire Me’ – a programme designed to give up to 20,000 young people with a learning disability opportunities to change their futures. 

The band hope that they may be in with a chance at achieving the coveted Christmas number one slot in the charts. Marks said: “At a time when the co-operative business model is very much in fashion, the United Nations has proclaimed 2012 to be the International Year of Co-operatives and there are approaching one billion members of co-operatives worldwide …maybe, just maybe, we could give X-Factor a run for its money!” 

Angel Square is so named after the Co-operative's head office building in Manchester, where the band will perform a full set, including songs by Maroon 5, the Black Eyed Peas and the Rolling Stones, for one night only.

Meet the band

Peter Marks - group chief executive - Drums
Chief executive of the Co-operative Group, the UK’s largest mutual business with a £14bn turnover, 5,300 outlets and 110,000 employees. What you may not know about Peter Marks is that he is a keen drummer, has some talented musicians within his organisation, and has secretly been rehearsing with them. An avid Rolling Stones fan, his dream job besides heading up the Co-operative Group, would be to be the Stones' drummer.

Trevor Ashworth - director of logistics - keys

Trevor is responsible for the logistics function within the Co-operative Food which handles more than 30,000 deliveries a week to 4,000 stores. No wonder he likes to unwind with a session at the piano. “It’s a long time since I last played in a band but I’m pleased to say it’s like riding a bike: it soon comes back to you once you get going."

Dan Zambas - accounts payable co-ordinator - lead guitar, synths

Dan has worked in the Co-operative Group shared financial service centre for the past three years. “I never thought playing in a band would form part of my career development at the Co-operative!” joked Dan. “I absolutely love it – I think I might even start growing my long hair back again!” Clearly a man of many talents, Dan’s mastery of both guitar and keyboards speaks for itself and after tonight we think you will understand why he also earns the nickname “Power Chord Zambas!”

Dan Harley - category merchandiser - lead vocals, musical director

Dan joined the Co-operative Food in 2007 following a previous career within the music industry and continues to bring his wealth of experience and creativity to corporate and charity projects. “It has been fantastic to work with such talented and dedicated people on this – I have been continually impressed. It’s incredible to think that what started out as a bit of fun has now seen us releasing a charity single – old habits obviously die hard!” said Dan, living proof that you can take the boy out of showbiz, but you can’t take showbiz out of the boy!

Caroline McCann - legal secretary - vocals

Caroline joined the Co-operative Group in January 2008 and has been known on frequent occasions during this time to entertain colleagues with her ultra smooth jazz-club vocals. She began singing at an early age and had already been on tour in Poland by the time she was 18. “I always love to be involved in anything musical and working with this band has been so much fun and all for such a great cause. It’s been a lot of hard work but I would happily do it all over again!”

Kat Harper - brand manager, packaging design - vocals

Kat joined the Co-operative Group in 2008 on the business management graduate scheme and now works within food media & communications. Kat has always loved singing and although you’d never guess, this is the first time she has ever been in a band. “Since joining the Co-operative I have been involved with many different projects across the family of businesses” says Kat, “and while this has possibly been the most unusual, I’ve loved every minute of it, it has to be up there as one of the best!”

Lee Braddock - ambient & frozen manager, depot availability - bass

Lee first picked up the bass guitar when he was 16, soon going on to wow Nottingham’s student scene with his nimble licks and inimitable groove. Joining the Co-operative Food in 1998, Lee put down the bass but continued to set the pace of a different kind, now heading up depot stock availability in the supply chain. “When my boss asked for my input into a new project, I never expected I’d be playing in a band with the CEO!” says Lee. However, his initial nerves soon gave way to infectious enthusiasm as the fingers loosened and the bass-playing wizardry made an indisputable return.

Eivind Brown - food IS programme manager - rhythm guitar

Scandinavia has been responsible for producing some undeniably talented musicians over the years and Eivind (of  Norwegian descent) is no exception. Inspired by the energy of the Sex Pistols, Eivind soon swapped the piano for guitar going on to have lessons with the real “Guitar George” who featured in the Dire Straits hit Sultans of Swing. Although being IS programme manager for the Co-operative Food keeps Eivind pretty busy, he also finds time to front his own Yorkshire-based band. “I absolutely love music, either playing or listening, it’s a huge part my life,” he said.